Capacity-building on Renewable Energy in the Pacific Islands
ESCAP, in collaboration with senior energy officials and energy planners from the Pacific islands revealed the Pacific Renewable Energy Training Initiative (PRETI) at a meeting with academics and regional and international development partners on 7-11 November in Suva, Fiji.
The meeting was being organized jointly by UNESCAP's Energy Security Section, the UNDP Regional Centre, Bangkok, and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).
PRETI addresses concerns voiced by Pacific Island officials that they lack adequate human resources and institutions to maintain and sustain renewable energy systems and projects.
Participants of the November 2005 meeting expressed their support for the suggested fund-raising process under PRETI, and successfully transferred the ownership of this Initiative to the Energy Working Group of the CROP, which will coordinate mobilizing funds in collaboration with ESCAP.
Background
The project is the result of activities carried out by UNESCAP in collaboration with Pacific-based organizations, in pursuit of recommendations from the Workshop on Sustainable Energy Policies and Strategies for Pacific Island Developing Countries, held in Suva, Fiji, in February 2002.
The Regional Energy Meeting 2004 (REM 2004), held in Madang, Papua New Guinea from 29 November to 3 December 2004, discussed a first proposal for addressing long-term capacity needs on renewable energy, which was developed by UNESCAP in collaboration with organizations in the Pacific:
The REM 2004 meeting recommended that a full project on training for the Pacific Island States be developed from the proposal.
 |
| The delegate from the Cook Islands enjoying the hospitality of the people of Papua New Guinea (Madang 2004). |
Project consultation
An initial consultation with stakeholders was held in Sigatoka, Fiji, on 9 August 2002. Nine Pacific Island States, together with representatives from the Pacific Power Association (PPA), the South Pacific Applied Geo-science Commission (SOPAC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), took part in the discussions. A mini-survey on experiences with renewable energy training and renewable energy training needs was carried out among the participants as inputs for discussions and future project activities. Pilot Trainings
Following the initial consultation, two pilot trainings were organized:
| 1: Solar Photovoltaic Project Development
(SOPAC, November 2003) |
|
| 2: Wind Energy Conversion Systems (USP, March/April 2004) |
|
 |
Module 1 - Renewable Energy: |
|
|
|
Module 2 – Introduction to Wind Power: |
|
|
|
Module 3 - Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WEC): |
|
|
|
Module 4 - Wind Energy Management and Control: |
|
|
|
Module 5 - Economic and Financial Aspects of WECS: |
|
|
|
Module 6 - Environmental and Social Aspects of Wind Power: |
|
|
|
Module 7 - Case Study: |
|
|
|
